India on Sunday asked Pakistan to end the atmosphere of terror along the border, saying that New Delhi wants to maintain friendly relations with the neighbouring country. “Pakistan should ponder as to how long this atmosphere of terror (dehshat gardi ka mahaul) will continue. I want to ask Pakistan, how long do you want to keep the border red with terrorismIJ It must come to an end,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a Border Security Force function at Attari border crossing point between India and Pakistan near Amritsar.
Recalling a statement by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh said that one can change his or her friend but not neighbours and that is why the NDA Government wanted friendly relations with Pakistan. Singh, lauding Vajpayee's peace initiative with the neighbouring country in the late 90s, said that this was the same Wagah-Attari border from where the former Prime Minister had started his peace initiative with Pakistan.
“Vajpayee had offered the hand of friendship to Pakistan. He not only wanted friendly relations with Pakistan but heart-to-heart relations between the people of the two countries… But what did we get in returnIJ Kargil war,” he said. Home Minister said that India won that war and wants to move forward and make friendship with Pakistan, “but, so far, we have not been able to achieve what we want”.
Hailing the role of BSF in guarding the border with Pakistan, Singh said that whenever required, the border guarding force has responded suitably to any challenge. He said that the Government is preparing a comprehensive plan for ensuring fool-proof security along the Indo-Pak border. Earlier, the Home Minister laid the foundation stone for a new viewers' gallery at Attari, the border post with Pakistan.